At the University of Chicago Medicine, we are at the forefront of heart valve disease care and our physicians work with each patient to create the right treatment for their needs.

Where is the mitral valve located?

The mitral valve is located between the left aria (upper chamber) and left ventricle (lower chamber), and allows blood to pass from the left atrium to the left ventricle. In a normal functioning mitral valve, its two leaflets open to allow blood to flow from the atria to the ventricle and then close tightly after the ventricle fills. 

Types of Mitral Valve Disease

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is one of the most common forms of heart valve disease. With mitral valve prolapse, the mitral valve leaflets stretch and loosen, preventing the valve from closing properly. Overtime, mitral valve prolapse can worsen and lead to mitral regurgitation (leaky valve).

Mitral Valve Regurgitation

Mitral regurgitation, also know as mitral valve insufficiency, occurs when the leaflets, or cusps, of the mitral valve do not close properly, allowing blood to flow backwards through the heart. As a result of this leaky mitral valve, the heart is not effectively pumping oxygenated blood out off the heart and into the rest of the body.

Mitral Valve Stenosis

Mitral stenosis occurs when a build up of plague in the valve and the flaps begin to stiffen and thicken, which eventually fuses the flaps together and forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body.

Mitral Valve Causes 

Mitral valve disease can either be caused by a defect or abnormality in the mitral valve, or it can result from another disorder or condition, such as:

  • Rheumatic fever
  • Heart attack
  • Endocarditis (infection of the heart valve)
  • Infection or trauma
  • Cardiomyopathy (abnormality of the heart muscle)
  • Congenital heart defects
  • Radiation therapy
  • Heart rhythm disorders

Mitral Valve Prolapse Symptoms  

If you have mitral valve disease, you could experience mitral regurgitation symptoms

If you are at risk for developing regurgitation, it is important to understand that you may or may not experience symptoms. For those that do have symptoms, they can either come on suddenly or gradually worsen. Consult your physician if you are at risk for mitral valve disease and are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain, palpitations
  • Dizziness or syncope (fainting)
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Swelling of hands, arms, leg and/or feet
  • Weight gain

Mitral Valve Repair and Replacements

At UChicago Medicine, we specialize in diagnosing and managing heart valve disease. Depending on the severity of the condition and the patients' medical history, treatment may include medications and lifestyle changes as well as surgical or interventional therapies. Our physicians are highly skilled in performing mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement heart surgery, including robotic heart surgery, and transcatheter mitral valve repair. We have a multidisciplinary team of experts that evaluates each patient to determine which strategy will be the most successful and provide the best quality of life.

The MitraClip is a small, mechanical clasp that is implanted into the heart and is used to join the two mitral valve leaflets together to reduce leakage. This is a minimally invasive mitral valve procedure in which the clip is implanted using a catheter that enters through the femoral vein and is guided to the chest. Patients are typically discharged within 48 hours, and many experience symptom relief from regurgitation immediately. 
The MitraClip offers a good valve repair solution for certain high-risk patients who might not be able to undergo traditional or robotic valve repair surgery. Patients that may be ideal candidates for transcatheter mitral valve repair include those who are older, have undergone radiation or have had previous bypass surgeries.

As pioneers in heart valve treatment, our experts can often offer surgical solutions that are not available at most hospitals. Physicians at the University of Chicago Medicine specialize in minimally invasive and robotic mitral valve repair— we perform more robotic procedures than any program in the United States. Our cardiac surgeons aim to repair malfunctioning heart valves before opting for mitral valve replacement, but they also can replace faulty or defective heart valves with artificial or biological valves taken from human or animal valve tissue. You and your physician will work together to decide what treatment option will work best.

Request an Appointment

The information you provide will enable us to assist you as efficiently as possible. A representative will contact you within one to two business days to help you schedule an appointment.

You can also make an appointment with our providers by:

Scheduling a virtual video visit to see a provider from the comfort of your home

Requesting an online second opinion from our specialists

Filling out an online questionnaire (e-visit) to get a same-day diagnosis and treatment for common conditions.

To speak to someone directly, please call 1-888-824-0200. If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

 

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Mitral Valve Disease